OCS packing list 2022

[villo0692]

Are you guys working yet down there in Pensacola? Or is it still beach parties and grill outs?

Lol. i got me a stash job in restriction, meaning I watch over the enlisted kids who got NinJa Punched. Work a couple days a week. Actually a really cool experience with some very unexpected and quite entertaining scenarios. Man Pensacola imo gets old real quick though, how was BDOC? You made it to your ship already?

 

[Mouselovr]

Are you guys working yet down there in Pensacola? Or is it still beach parties and grill outs?

Depends on who you are. Its legit a dice roll.
I know some people have fallen between the cracks and haven't stood a watch in months.

I know others who are about to stand to watch every other day ? @villo0692 (he loves it)

Personally, I'm somewhere in the middle. For future Apoolers reading this, if you have the luxury to pick a stash job, I highly recommend it. Doing nothing is really boring, and even the "something" the navy has us Apooler's doing still leaves plenty of time to have fun.

 

[FloridaDad]

Depends on who you are. Its legit a dice roll.
I know some people have fallen between the cracks and haven't stood a watch in months.

I know others who are about to stand to watch every other day ? @villo0692 (he loves it)

Personally, I'm somewhere in the middle. For future Apoolers reading this, if you have the luxury to pick a stash job, I highly recommend it. Doing nothing is really boring, and even the "something" the navy has us Apooler's doing still leaves plenty of time to have fun.

Do they still have working at the National Naval Aviation Museum as a stash job? I heard that was an option and it honestly sounds like a fun way to kill the wait time.

 

[NavyOCSHopeful]

Lol. i got me a stash job in restriction, meaning I watch over the enlisted kids who got NinJa Punched. Work a couple days a week. Actually a really cool experience with some very unexpected and quite entertaining scenarios. Man Pensacola imo gets old real quick though, how was BDOC? You made it to your ship already?

BDOC and OOD weren’t bad. San Diego sucks after a couple weeks, though. 61 days was a pain in the ass.

Already at my ship and working. Recently switched from 4 section to 5 section, so that’s nice. lol

 

[Mouselovr]

Do they still have working at the National Naval Aviation Museum as a stash job? I heard that was an option and it honestly sounds like a fun way to kill the wait time.

Yes.

 

[villo0692]

a year ago today I was driving in to Newport to report to OCS. We all went out to get drinks and dinner. I typically have only one drink everytime I go out, this time wasn’t different. Then OCS happened. I should have had a second drink

 

[wesleyjt]

At OCS, you will keep all your belongings that are not on display locked in a drawer around ~4ft x ~3ft. This includes both the stuff you bring into OCS and all the additional gear they issue you. As a result, less is more...

This is not a definitive list. When I went to OCS, I brought way too much.

Here is my personal list of everything I would bring (and nothing else beyond this list) if I were to go to OCS again:




Absolute necessities:

3-4 pairs of BLACK Fox river/ thorlos boot socks
Not to beat a dead horse, but these socks are an undisputed necessity for OCS. The boots/ boot socks they issue you are garbage, and you will destroy your feet.
2x packs of baby wipes
You will not have enough time after PT in the mornings to shower. Baby wipes are going to be your best friend.
1x plastic clip board
Almost everyone brings a clipboard for bed making.
1x general toiletries
You will have access to buy toiletries at OCS. The opportunity is uncommon. You will not have an opportunity within the first couple of days.
1x pack of tide pods
Laundry

Highly recommend:

1x measurement ninja star
A lot of people will bring these, but it's nice to have your own for inspections.
1x roll of masking tape
Only really useful for the first couple of weeks
1x blanket and pillow
The bedding you get is trash and you'll want your sheets in good condition for inspections.
1x towel
The towel they issue is trash and used for inspection
4x pairs of spandex shorts
Compression shorts are not issued, so only if you need them for PT


Females:
4-6x sports bras
Sports bras are not issues. Bring your own
Full set of hair ties/ clips
Must be same color as hair or black... no fun colors
Extra supply of pads/tampons
2x hairspray

Males:
Quality razors
You'll be shaving every day
Anti razor bump shaving cream (Bump Patrol)
Optional but my friends were pretty insistent on this one

If you're going in the winter time
2x chapsticks
1x body and face lotion

Do not bring:
(I wish I was kidding, but during my time at OCS, I saw people try to bring every single one of these items listed below)
Ammo
Weapons
Condoms
Food
Caffeine
Medications (see medications below... this includes over-the-counter, unless Rx)

Medications
Unless you have a written prescription from a doctor, all medications (including over-the-counter meds such as Advil, melatonin and TUMS) are not allowed. If you need to bring medications into OCS, get a doctor's prescription before you arrive. There is medical at OCS, however, it is a process.
FEMALES... PLEASE, if you have menstrual cramps, get an Rx beforehand. If you get to OCS and do not have an Rx, tell one of your INDOC Candios asap that you need to go to medical to get pain meds.

1. My CO recommended the old school shirt-stays (garter style) for keeping the bed sheets tight (attached underneath). Anyone do that, or was it expressly prohibited?
2. How much time do you have for hygiene after PT? I am thinking of boot camp, and was just gonna pack a 2-in-1 shampoo to use head to toe for my 30 second shower. Given that it's OCS, should I pack actual face wash and body soap?

 

[villo0692]

1. My CO recommended the old school shirt-stays (garter style) for keeping the bed sheets tight (attached underneath). Anyone do that, or was it expressly prohibited?
2. How much time do you have for hygiene after PT? I am thinking of boot camp, and was just gonna pack a 2-in-1 shampoo to use head to toe for my 30 second shower. Given that it's OCS, should I pack actual face wash and body soap?

1. During RLP they will flip your mattress, and if they find shirt stays they will consider it grar adrift and you WILL autofail, do not do that.
2. It varies. Most times I was able to shower. But I am fast, some ppl weren’t. If you have been to bootcamp like I was, you should be good to go since you are probably proficient at getting ready quick. Yes you can take your own bodywash, no more Lever2000

 

[The2ndworst]

Are we allowed to bring mole skin for blisters?

 

[Mouselovr]

Are we allowed to bring mole skin for blisters?

Yes

 

[Rtjenkins]

1. My CO recommended the old school shirt-stays (garter style) for keeping the bed sheets tight (attached underneath). Anyone do that, or was it expressly prohibited?
2. How much time do you have for hygiene after PT? I am thinking of boot camp, and was just gonna pack a 2-in-1 shampoo to use head to toe for my 30 second shower. Given that it's OCS, should I pack actual face wash and body soap?

1) when you start wearing khakis, shirt stays are mandatory. You can wear the ones purchased from the Nex or bring your own.

2) Sometimes you only have about 5-10min for head and Hugo after Pt. Baby Wipes. On days wear we do have time, it’s only about 39min between you abs your hatch mate. Pack your own soap and face wash

3)

 

[wesleyjt]

1. During RLP they will flip your mattress, and if they find shirt stays they will consider it grar adrift and you WILL autofail, do not do that.
2. It varies. Most times I was able to shower. But I am fast, some ppl weren’t. If you have been to bootcamp like I was, you should be good to go since you are probably proficient at getting ready quick. Yes you can take your own bodywash, no more Lever2000

Excellent, very helpful. I was skeptical of his suggestion, thanks for confirming.
Also thanks for confirming that most people didn't sleep under the sheets, I have thin compact sleeping bag that I planned to keep in the two drawer.

 

[AllAmerican75]

2x packs of baby wipes
You will not have enough time after PT in the mornings to shower. Baby wipes are going to be your best friend.

Is this seriously an issue? I never had that problem at OCS and our DI would come into the showers with us (the dudes at least) and cause chaos. If you don't have enough time for hygiene in the morning, you aren't doing something right or you just need to learn how to shower faster.

But I guess this was back in the day when OCS was actually hard and we had to deal with electrical fires and freezing temperatures in the old Nimitz Hall (right across from Ney Hall). You young whipper-snappers wouldn't know anything about that.

 

[JoeBob1788]

Is this seriously an issue? I never had that problem at OCS and our DI would come into the showers with us (the dudes at least) and cause chaos. If you don't have enough time for hygiene in the morning, you aren't doing something right or you just need to learn how to shower faster.

But I guess this was back in the day when OCS was actually hard and we had to deal with electrical fires and freezing temperatures in the old Nimitz Hall (right across from Ney Hall). You young whipper-snappers wouldn't know anything about that.

Unfortunately this is very true. Boot camp, dive school, anywhere else I’ve taken quick showers and never had a problem. OCS didn’t provide enough time to change after PT, no thought to showers until Candio phase. I don’t know of anyone who regularly took showers after PT. On the plus side, new Nimitz is really pretty nice, with two showers in each two-room suite.

 

[villo0692]

Excellent, very helpful. I was skeptical of his suggestion, thanks for confirming.
Also thanks for confirming that most people didn't sleep under the sheets, I have thin compact sleeping bag that I planned to keep in the two drawer.

They will inspect all your stuff the day you arrive to OCS, typically it is the candios who do that, but sometimes the class team inspects your luggage themselves, I would not count of either one of them letting you keep that sleeping bag since well, you have a bed right?